You love to Flying Because......?

[Vardog]

I was asked by a non-pilot friend why it is that I love to fly so much. When I tried to explain it I found that it was not easy to do. I answered him - I love being able to do it in the first place. I love the the sights, the feeling of freedom, yadda-yadda-yadda. But as I was telling him I knew that these things were not particular to aviation. Any number of things could provide the same things that I had said flying had given to me. So - why FLYING?
What is it about flying that you love? Why do you do it? Why do WE do it? Is there a single element of aviation that unites us all and seperates us from those who do not fly?

Your opinions would be great!

 

[asolo]

I like to fly b/c there's nothin like the adrenaline rush of my students trying to kill me! Here's lookin at you VarDog!

 

[bigD]

I like the fact that being up there is a world in and of itself. Everything I do on the ground, be it school, my programming job, the fight I just had with my girlfriend, or whatever - gets left on the ground. When I'm up there, it's just me, the plane, and whatever tasks I need to accomplish to keep the flight safe.

Now you're right - this isn't completely unique. But what's cool about aviation is that if you keep raising the bar for yourself, you'll never run out of stuff to aspire to. There's just too much to learn and accomplish in one lifetime. So no matter how many hours I have, and no matter what kind of ratings I get, there's always something I can do to make myself a more knowledgable and capable pilot. And learning new things is part of the fun of it all. There's nothing cooler than looking back through your logbook and seeing the progression of capability in yourself as a pilot.

Those are the big items for me.

 

[LrBob]

because it beats the crap out working in a real job and of course there are all the girls and big bucks----Yea right

 

[Sniper Bob]

Fortune and glory, my friend. Fortune and glory.

 

[LrBob]

thats right almost forgot the glory-i will be basking in the glory while freezing my butt of in winslow az tomorrow-yippee

 

[TDTURBO]

I do it because of the challenge, versatility and thrill of knowing a mistake could kill you. I raced motocross for 10 years but am too old to do it anymore so flying was the next logical step. I also like because its expensive, takes brains..IFR especially....and not everyone can do it. That is why I hate the recreational and sport pilot certificates. The more people that learn to fly, the sooner it will become congested, restricted and more dangerous.

 

[tcoll777]

chicks dig it

 

[DLF8108]

ADRENALINE RUSH...PLUS...FREEDOM
& THE SELF-DISCIPLINE TO EXERCISE IT WISELY

 

[navigator72]

Clouddancing

I love the feeling of seeing things that most people will never see.
The chicks realy dig it too.

 

[skyking1976]

I have to say that flying has taken me to places that has allowed me to see some of the most beautiful sights our world has to offer. To name a few: The sun rising over the Green Mountains in Vermont. The skylines of London, New York, and Chicago. The endless pack ice and icebergs while crossing the north Atlantic. The sun setting over the desert in New Mexico.

I would rather be freezing my a$$ off in the middle of winter, flying a piece of $h!t Navajo for $25K per year over the Rockies than sitting in a cubicle, punching a keyboard, making $50K staring out the window wishing I was flying the Navajo... Oh yeah, chicks dig it too!

Cheers,
Skyking

 

[Typhoon1244]

Why do I love to fly? Because of the mountains of cash I'm making as a regional jet captain!

Seriously, though...

It's difficult for me to explain. I know I get unbelieveable satisfaction from making an airplane do what I want it to do. I don't get the same feeling driving a car, working on a puzzle, or any other challenge or endeavor. Bringing an airplane down out of the sky and landing it just where you want to...it's a rush.

I don't think I could ever give it up.

 

[darien]

high flying

I feel high when Im flying high Do you rember the first time you soloed Well I do not fly that often so I get that feeling each time I fly When I land I'm like "hell yes" Forget the rollercoasters I just had the ride of my life. I'm just glad I'm healthy enough and fortunate to fly for fun. For all you guys that fly professionaly forget the chicks and money and never forget the elated feeling of that first solo.

Great day to ya!

 

[HappyFlying]

I love flying because....

The first streak of dawn behind the Appalachian Mountains

The final glow of a pink sunset

My shadow cast in the moonlight of a fullmoon

The green trail of meteor crossing the night sky

The soft feel of a greased landing

The grass stains on my prop tips

The satisfaction of breaking out at minimums

The challenge of constantly learning new things

The joy of taking my nephew for his first flight

The chance to pitch a tent under my wing

The absolute rush from my first snap roll

The faint smell of oil and avgas as I open my hangar door

The friendships I have made all over the country since I began flying

....Just to name a few


Fly Happy and God Bless this holiday season,
HappyFlying

 

[bobbysamd]

Why I love flying

because it beats the crap out working in a real job and of course there are all the girls and big bucks----Yea right

Especially the girls. That's also the primary why I started in radio - Yeah, right, to both.

Everyone is right. I like HappyFlying's point about the friends. Meet anyone who is a pilot and no matter if he/she is a student or some 40,000-hour 747 captain and you have something to talk about - and probably have made another friend.

There is a big intangible about flying and aircraft that is hard to explain to others, let alone to yourself. I know that for me I always liked vehicles. Things that go. I get a great deal of satisfaction from just flying the airplane. Then, when I started instructing, I got a great deal of satisfaction from soloing out someone who didn't know anything about airplanes a short time before, and attending to that person as he/she progressed through the person's ratings.

I liked the romance of the so-called Golden Age of Airlines of the '50s. Sure, RJs are cool and I would have loved to fly one, or a 1900, or something with glass, for that matter. But Connies, DC-7s, DC-3s, etc. have it over all of them for romance.

I appreciate SkyKing's point two ways. Being in an airplane beats sitting in front of the screen in an office all day - but it is hard to beat the $50K, too, unless it's more than $50K.

Yes, it's hard to explain.

 

[ClassG]

Did sim training at Flight Safety in Long Beach earlier this year. My instructor retired from United in 1976. He is now 86. Said he only knows of one other person than himself who has more type ratings and LOAs.

At 86, this man, Frank is his name, was still sharper than myself AND my sim partner together, both at around 30. He says it sucks to be an old pilot - you must always remember these things:
1. Never waste the opportunity to take a piss
2. Never, ever trust a fart.
3. And Never, Never let a stiffy go to waste - even if you're alone.
(OH, and in case you screw up on one of these first 3, ALWAYS wear dark black pants.)

Joking aside, when I sked him casually what it was about flying that he loved so much, for so long, he said many of the things you're all saying.

But added, he had done many other things in his life. But NOTHING else made him feel like the man he KNEW he was supposed to be. Only flying did that. Sure it's about challenges and relationships and maybe even chicks. But it made him whole.

It's so great to get to hear from an old-timer every now and again. They usually don't tell you anything you haven't already heard. But the way they say, and the place it comes from leaves a lasting effect that you'll always respect.

Hope Frank's still doing well. I know his wife was sick. Hope they get to enjoy another beautiful Christmas this year. Anyone heard from him lately?

 

[AWACoff]

I love to fly because without it, my life would not be complete. If I get furloughed again, you will find me working for peanuts at the nearest dropzone. Why live if you can't fly, eh?

 

[Fr8Dog]

well everyone knows chicks love pilots so you have to become a pilot if you want to get laid all the time, and because of all the money you make. Well thats what I thought when I started flying anyway.

 

[Country Wild]

It is the best therapy I have found.

 

[bigD]

Poon.


I was told to expect lots of this upon becoming a pilot. But once I got my private, I waited, and nothing happened. So they told me I needed to fly bigger planes, so I got checked out in the 172, and still, nothing happened. So I thought maybe flying low winged planes would do it and got checked out in the entire Cherokee line. Still, nothing happened. Retracts! Now that's where the poon is. 250 hours of retract time later, and still nothing. Light twins! 100 hours later - still nothing.

Man, this is harder than I thought! I bet you've gotta burn kerosene. That's it! I need to be flying a turboprop or jet. I'll be beating them off with a stick then!

Heh heh - I'm really glad my girlfriend doesn't spend any time on these boards....I'd be in DEEEEP trouble!

 

[Smoking Man]

Jonathan Livingston Seagull by Richard Bach, that book answers the question for me.

 

[dispatchguy]

Let's see why I love to fly (or jumpseat since I'm diabetic)

Breaking out of an overcast layer over Chicago at night, on a downwind for the 27s - nothing like Chicago all lit up at nite.

Sunrise over the North Atlantic, jumpseating on a UAL B777 ORDCDG a few years back.

The view today over Pueblo colorado on our way to ALS then PHX, all the snow-capped mountains as far as the eye could see.

Seeing the Aurora Borealis from the flight deck of a P3 Orion over Southern Greenland on my way back to NAS Keflavik Iceland back in 1990 - a sight I'll NEVER forget.

The red rocks of Sedona from the SILOW dep out of PHX - looked like mars.

Well, back to work.....

 

[nosewheel]

The Glamour, The Glory, The Bankruptcy's, The Furlough's, The Cheap hotel rooms,The FAA, Human resource drug and alcohol Dept,Screw Scheduling Dept,The Chief Pilot's Orifice, MX, Late hotel shuttle pick up and arriving at the hotel just as the Bar closes,Catering dosn't show in time for your 12 hr. hop across the pond in a freighter after only eating the Hotel Rat food for breakfast, Jumpseating home from MIA or PSM to SEA after being up for 26 hours and getting bumped half way by a fed. Filling out NASA reports. Seriously.. the Best Time is when we are starting engines and pushing back then blocking in at the other end. All the other stuff sucks but goes with the job. OK..The Chicks too, This and more ... All for the LOVE of FLYING!!

 

[Traumahawk]

For being so hard to put into words, you guys aren't doing too bad a job!


Base to Final........'can really put things into perspective sometimes.

T-hawk

 

[FlyDeltasJets]

Did you guys mention that chicks dig it?

 

[tarp]

Flying, Skiing, golf, 10K runner.

I look at my hobbies and now my profession over time and see a common thread. A total type "A" junkie, I am drawn to pursuits that require me to improve over the very best I have to offer.

When I ran races, it was always faster.

When I play golf, I'm still looking for that round of 18 but alas I keep scoring in the seventies and eighties.

When I ski, there's always that one corner I could've cut better, that crud that almost got me and that total yard sale I left back on Suicide Hill.

Those mountains and vistas while I'm skiing, the lush green and beautiful parkland I golf through, even some of the 10K's were on very interesting paths.

And then there's flying. Above it all. Perfection is demanded and then we try to do better. The views spectacular. The pursuit of happiness in the most pure form. I have no cure for this addiction as probably most on this board feel. I would probably give up food and water before I gave up flying completely. (But I will add this - flying an RJ around for a regional is the equivalent of being a caddie or being a ski instructor - you fly, but man they do make it hard work.) If you force me to give up food and water to fly, I'll be flying a Citabria or Extra 300 - it sure ain't gonna be hauling people or boxes.

Merry Christmas!

 

[Rook]

I actually miss seeing when a student finally 'gets it' and the first hurdle of the first solo is done. I really miss teaching Multi and CFI stuff.

I also remember a friend I had when I was a CFI who worked the ramp for ASA. He'd sneak us into a CRJ after hours and light the cockpit up and we'd ooh and ahh and drool. And I remember saying to myself that I'd fly that plane one day.

Isn't it funny that we spend all the time trying to be around the airport constantly and then once we get there and finish our trips we cant wait to get the hell out of the airport?

Happy Holidays friends

Rook

600' AGL Autopilot on.
'WHEW!'

 

[TXCAP4228]

The first time I broke out on top in the daytime after taking off under an ugly gray overcast and saw a clear blue sky.

The first time I broke out on top at night and saw the stars without being washed out by lights on the ground.

The first time I broke out for real on an ILS and saw runway lights in front of me.

Watching a line of thunderstorms 100 miles away at night, all lit up by lightning.

The solitude.

The responsibility.

And chicks.

 

[Vardog]

Awesome Answers!!

I have not experienced (YET) the things that many of you are talking about, and I am sure my wife hopes that I don't experience them all! The ones that I have experienced, the first solo, and occasional greaser, busting through an overcast layer feeling like the sun is up there only for you, are all incredible.
I used to take a camera with me whenever I was in the air but I never take pictures anymore - they like the discriptions that have been written here, are good but they don't really do justice to this art and science that we all love so much.


I really have enjoyed reading what all of you have written -- MANY THANKS!!

Vardog